Get ready for Mesa County Libraries Comic Con on Saturday, Oct. 6

This year’s Comic Con happens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Two Rivers Convention Center, 159 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction. Admission is free with a Mesa County Libraries library card; otherwise, it’s $5 at the door (proceeds will support next year’s event). Kids 10 and under get in free.

At Comic Con, you’ll find special guest speakers, cosplay and costume contests, fandom meet-ups on popular topics, a special Comic Con merchandise booth, and an exhibit hall featuring more than 50 artists, authors, crafters, shops, and others! Don’t miss photo opportunities with the 501st Legion, a group of Star Wars enthusiasts who make their own impressively detailed costumes, and the Justice League of Hope, a collection of superheroes whose mission is to bring smiles to those they meet.

Costume contests take place throughout the day, with the kids’ contest at 10 a.m. (registration begins at 9:30 a.m.), the teen contest at 1 p.m. (registration at 12:30 p.m.), and the adult contest at 4 p.m. (registration at 3:30 p.m.).

Panel discussions include “Dungeons and Divas: A Beginner’s Guide to D&D,” “Comics and Childhood Literacy,” “LGBTQ Representation in Pop Culture,” “Paper Trails: What’s a Zine?” and “Censorship in Comics: A History of Controversy.”

A complete schedule of the day’s events, as well as a list and map of exhibitors, can be found here.

Kevin J. Anderson, a New York Times bestselling author, is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. on the Main Stage about “Building My First Light Saber.” Anderson is a prolific and popular science fiction writer with fans worldwide and has published more than 140 books, including 56 national or international bestsellers. He has written numerous novels in the Star Wars, X-Files, and Dune universes, as well as unique steampunk fantasy novels “Clockwork Angels” and “Clockwork Lives,” written with rock drummer Neal Peart and based on the concept album by the band Rush. Anderson will answer audience questions and will be available for autographs and book-signings after his presentation.

Mike Baron, Eisner Award-winning co-creator of the long-running superhero comic “Nexus,” will speak at 11 a.m. on the Main Stage, discussing “The Art of Storytelling.” Baron has won two Eisner awards, which are sometimes referred to as the Academy Awards of the comic book industry, and an Inkpot award, another highly regarded award in the comic and sci-fi industry. Baron will answer audience questions and will be available for autographs and book-signings after his presentation.

Nerd-rock artist Kirby Krackle is scheduled to speak and answer audience questions at 12:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. Kirby Krackle is known the world over as the go-to band for heartfelt songs dedicated to the best in comic books, video games, and geek culture. The band’s YouTube videos total more than 3.5 million views. Meet Kirby Krackle in the Expo Hall, where the band will be selling merchandise and CDs. Kirby Krackle is scheduled to perform a show on the evening of Oct. 6 as part of Cospalooza at the Avalon Theatre in downtown Grand Junction. Information is available at avalontheatregj.com/events/cospalooza

Other presentations at Comic Con include a Cosplay 101 panel at 9:30 a.m. on the Main Stage, and an appearance by artists of the Junktown Comic Book Project at 3:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. The Junktown Comic Book Project is a collaboration of Grand Valley local cartoonists and illustrators who produce an annual anthology of short comics released to coincide with Mesa County Libraries Comic Con.

Concessions will be available for purchase in the Main Hallway at Two Rivers Convention Center, and quiet children’s activities will be offered all day in the Kids’ Room (children must be accompanied by adults).

Make a day of it and attend Mesa County Libraries Comic Con Saturday, Oct. 6!